Thirteen

NO, not that movie... I won't link it because it depresses me to think about.

This is a tale of two teenage girls.

One was 13 in 1979 and is shown here. Why do I look 28? Did I ever have a youth? Yeah I must have.. and apparently I squandered it.

Blech. Whatever.

This girl has done it right. She looks cute, happy, athletic and popular.


She could improve her grades, but I can help her with that. Over all I would rather be her.


Happy Birthday, my darling 13 year old girl, MonAnge!


(in case you are wondering.. and I am sure none of you are, I have decided to substitute MonAnge for The Angel... I think it flows better... what do you think?)

Oh and her horoscope for today, via the Chicago Tribune:

Today's Birthday (Jan. 23). A partnership developed this year brings you security. You'll also make new friends and do things you've never done before. Try not to spend too much on toys.

**Update**

I should have thought of this before... but I just double checked on IMDb to see who MonAnge shares a birthday with to see if this gives me any insight into her and her personality... it is an interesting mix:

Tiffani Thiessen (34)
Norah O'Donnell (34)
Mariska Hargitay (44)
Gail O'Grady (45)
Princess Caroline of Monaco (51)
Richard Dean Anderson (58)
Rutger Hauer (64)
Chita Rivera (75)
Jeanne Moreau (80)

Nope... it isn't really helping me much.

Who's that Girl?

Is that cheerleader Imelda?

Yes it is...

Naturally, I dragged my grubbly stomach out to the school to see my baby shake her pompoms...

Mon Ange? She stayed home and concentrated on keeping her dinner down.


oh, and after she cheered for the boys who lost by a gigundas margin... then she ran off and PLAYED basketball.

Sadly, they also lost... but by 1 basket.

Does this kid rock or what?

Basketball Jones...

I don't know why... but the games that are the most interesting are the ones that I fail to have a camera present at....

Imelda played two whole quarters. Which is something of a miracle... I have not written about my issues with Imelda's coach.. who believes in winning... even if all the girls don't play. in the 6th grade.

Anyway, this time, she was locked and loaded and they all played beautifully together... and won.

The Angel?

Well despite her assertiveness earlier, she was faced with a girl more assertive than she on the court. In fact, I would say this chicky was half way violent.....

The Angel has a certain advantage with her height. Essentially she is a moving wall of tall power. This girlie was short stock and more aggressive than a Catholic girl was ever meant to be.... and sadly without perspective.

At one point while trying to fake out the Angel she decided to skip the formalities and she conk the Angel in the face.... when the Angel went down? She continued her pass... From then on my Angel was wary.... very wary... by the 3rd quarter there were words exchanged... by the 4th this girl looked ready to throw punches.

The Angel's team lost in the last seconds of the game.

When I asked her about the girl, I got a string of invectives from the Angel (who has apparently inherited my potty mouth and then some) that would make a sailor blush. Yes, this other kid was saying very nasty things and was throwing surreptitious punches.

Yup... nothing like Catholic schoolgirl basketball...

I think next time, I am bringing a helmet for the Angel... she might need it against some of these girls.... Shhesh...

Oh and Chicka.... she can't buy the shorts... they are school issued... blech. Luckily they have been found.

Poppy? You may borrow her at any point. As much as I complain out her, I really did want her to have this much attitude... at 12, it can only be ground out of her by life and the world... so I am not too awfully worried that she will end up a completely inappropriate brat...

And Steve, welcome! Don't sweat it... Poppy and I understand each other... there was no insult to anyone... she knows me more than anyone else in the blogosphere....and trust me... The Angel is at one of those ages where most Moms want to slap the hell out of their daughter's... yet, somehow, we resist... no doubt because we remember being 12 ourselves....

Oh, and as I will prolly be cooking like the wind tomorrow early and drunk later... Happy Thanksgiving!

My Favorite Phrase...

It's NOT FAIR!!!!!

Yeah... it is my fault that the Angel can't find her basketball uniform shorts and I won't let her use her sister's...

That is me... nothing but trouble...

or

She could just be disorganized and blaming everyone but herself.

You tell me?

The light of the Baby Jesus?











or the fire of his fiendish foe?

And now for something completely different

From the Angel... A guest blogging post...

Why its good to have my mom as a mom.

1.She can drive.

2.She knows absolutly everything about everything.[Helps me with homework.]

3.Knows how to take burnt plastic off of my curling iron.

4.Has a credit card.

5.Funny..[but can be embaressing]

6.Is a awesome cook.

7.Isn't afraid to go into Abercrombie and Fitch, like a certain parent I know...Dad...

8.Cares about me.

9.Isn't your mother.[hehe...burn.]

10.Is awesome.



(please note, I also k now how to spell check!) Still, it is nice to hear something nice from her occasionally

Sadly I thought that I posted more

More birthday party pix

A little game of catch up

Ok... what have I missed?

Well Tuesday was birthday number 12 for the Angel. That same day I did have the the mammogram. which wasn't nearly as bad as I was dreading. A little squeezing and feeling like a dork half naked with my boob in vise... but I suspect it beats the hell out of breast cancer, so that worked out.

The Angel's birthday was busy, we had my folks over for dinner and cake... and then her dinner party on Friday. This meant that we took her friends, Quito and Frieda to dinner with us as well as Imelda's friend Cate. The Angel wanted to go to David Burke's steak house which was a bit fancy for the group but they were great. The Angel and Quito held hands under the table... well until at least Fun Daddy noticed then insisted that all hands remain about the table.

Frieda had never had lobster before and really wanted to try one. I am usually hesitant about getting this for kids. Not that it is too fancy for them, but generally they waste it. You have seen that look before, it sounds fabulous, but the reality doesn't live up to their expectations. However, we decided to let her go for it.

It was the right decision... I have NEVER seen a child enjoy a meal more thoroughly. She dug into that meal with such gusto and I was certain that she was from Maine. When she opened and the chest cavity and discovered the tomally, I admit I was a bit concerned. "What is this green stuff," she asked me hesitantly. "It is the liver, which is called tomally, " I told her and added, "It is considered a delicacy" She looked at me for a moment... as if considering what I was saying to her, then dug right in... "Hmmm, hey this is good," I heard her mumble. She was even encouraging the Angel and Quito to try bites. Soon enough she had exhausted to most obvious food sources and was curcious to see what else was available. I showed her how to crack open the legs and suck out the meat. It was hysterical.

The rest of the kids were enjoying their meals as well.. Imelda and Cate shared a porterhouse. Cate wanted to bring her half home for her dad, so she picked at her dinner... sadly it was not to be, as sometime in the middle of the night, the girls took the leftovers out of the fridge so they could get to the prepared cookie dough... Can you guess what happened next? Yup, the pooch scored!

Quite a week, eh? Well we still had science fair! Yes, our mold had finally grown and done its final duty. The Angel and Frieda had five minutes to set up (I could help) and then were on their own. It appears that they did well... but I don't know for sure quite yet.

Goodness, I am exhausted... and worse, Imelda has another big project to be finished this week. I am hanging on here!

Just ignore my sense of doom

yes, I can't help it...

I am Irish.

I am Catholic.

I see death and destruction all around me.

I am not Little Miss Sunshine (A movie I loved by the way.... what did people expect the heroin snorting grandpa obsessed with sex to teach his grand daughter... that is all I will say)

That being said, I am not being positive about my first mammogram which will be tomorrow. Mammogram and the Angel's 12th birthday... it seems like worlds are colliding to me...

Oh don't get statistical on me... I know I am a walking time bomb when it comes to breast cancer... I am fat, I drink, I love meat, there is breast cancer on both sides of my family... as my cousin, pointed out to me, I have "excess adipose tissue"... or wait... that is the same as me being fat.

Mostly I think it is the Angel stuff that is getting to me... Lately, she is a soul sucking force in my life... I guess I view the appointment date as a sign...

So... here is my huge paranoid fantasy...

Diagnosed with breast cancer...

Lose both boobs,

Now that cancer deaths are on the decline, chemo and radiation will come to naught... (Oh when I mentioned all of this to Fun Daddy, he declared that dying of cancer in the face of decreased cancer deaths would be ironic.... and not the Alanis Morrisette version of it.. since that song should have been called, Isn't it a bummer.)

The Angel calls me a nasty name on my deathbed,

Imelda complains that I am not doing her homework for her therefore I am not supportive of her schooling..

and as a final blow... Fun Daddy turns mes filles over to his parents to be raised where they become my mother in laws personal bartenders and another "stupid female" foil for my father in law...


Now that I have confessed this fear, it means that it can't happen, right?

And yes, Jim, I am ok... I am just highly paranoid. I will be fine after my birthday... yes, it will take that long.